Wire reel for a coil of wire

ABSTRACT

A wire reel formed from a length of wire to provide opposed axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each side being defined by the formation in the wire of circumferentially spaced apart radially outwardly extending side projections, with successive side projections at each side of the reel being connected by circumferentially extending connecting side portions, and in which the core is defined by diagonal cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.

United States Patent Cassel et al.

[ Sept. 26, 1972 WIRE REEL FOR A COIL OF WIRE [72] Inventors: Carlls E. Cassel; Donald S. Krueger,

both of Niles, Mich.

[731 Assignec: National-Standard Company, Niles,

Mich.

I22] Filed: Aug. l9, l97l [2|] Appl. No.: 173,232

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 60,294, Aug. 3, I970,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..242/l29.8, 242/772 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 49/00 [58] Field of Search ..242/77.2, 129-1298 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,862,l99 6/1932 Schane ..242/77.2

Blary ..242/77.2 Gildart ..242/77.2

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck & Wagner [57] ABSTRACT A wire reel formed from a length of wire to provide opposed axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each side being defined by the formation in the wire of circumferentially spaced apart radially outwardly extending side projections, with successive side projections at each side of the reel being connected by circumferentially extending connecting side portions, and in which the core is defined by diagonal crossover portions extending between axially opposed side projections.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEMB me I Iva/87215219:-

CarlisE. Casseb. D0 nalal'lm BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many attempts have been made to develop an inexpensive reel to provide a labor saving package for traverse layer wound coils of wire capable of the dual function of securing the wire for shipment and adaptable to commercial let-off equipment. However, these prior attempts have been stifled by material and construction costs required to manufacture a reel to provide a wire coil package of sufficient strength and ample rigidity for shipment. Conventional and known reels are provided with a rigid core and are subject to undue lateral spreading at the outer peripheries of the sidewalls. These reels have only nominal sidewall strength and quickly assume a V-shaped configuration since the pivot point on the rigid core of the reel is located at an apex between the sidewalls and the rigid v core.

THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the aforediscussed deficiencies of the known reels by providing a reel fabricated from a length of wire formed in a unique manner into a reel for a coil of wire which minimize material and construction costs, and yet of sufficient strength for shipment and is readily adaptable to commercial known let-off equipment.

To achieve the foregoing a length of wire is formed to provide axially spaced apart reel sides and a core with the reel sides each being defined by formation of the wire into circumferentially spaced apart radially outwardly extending side projections connected by connecting side portions, and with the core defined by diagonally extending cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.

In a reel constructed as last noted in the traverse winding of wire about the core thereof the reel sides are rigidly supported. Upon completion of winding of a coil of wire on the reel and release of the reel side supporting members, the wound coil due to the forces therein expands axially outwardly, and in the reel of the present invention the diagonal cross-over portions defining the core permit the sides of the reel to remain parallel and in planes perpendicular to the axis of the reel. The coil does not assume a V-shaped cross sectional configuration as occurs in prior art devices. Also, when the reel with the coil of wire thereon is mounted in a let-off apparatus, the reel sides are moved axially towards each other to axially recompress the coil. The diagonal cross-over portions again permit such recompression to take place allowing a smooth and untangled paying off of the wire from the coil. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reel of the present invention with a coil of wire thereon to provide a wire coil package;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a continuous length of wire formed to provide the reel of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows the wire of FIG. 3 formed to provide side projections for the reel and the connecting portions thereof to form the reel sides of a reel, and prior to formation of the wire as shown in FIG. 4 to an annular configuration to form the reel of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. l. and 2 of the drawing the reel of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 3 which, as shown, provides for the support of a traversely layer wound coil of wire 4.

The reel 3 is defined by axially spaced apart reel sides indicated generally at 6 and a reel core indicated generally at 7. Each reel side 6 is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially outwardly extending side projections, indicated generally at 8, in which successive pairs of side projections 8 are connected by radially inwardly disposed circumferentially extending connecting side portions indicated generally at 9. The side projections 8 at opposite sides of the reel preferably lie in axially opposed alignment. Also it is preferred that the connecting side portions 9 lie on an arc of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the core 7. Each side projection 8 is defined by a pair of leg portions 11 and 12 extending angularly outwardly towards each other and connected at their outer ends by a closed loop 14. The reel core 7 is defined by diagonal cross-over portions 15 extending between axially opposed side projections 8.

The completed reel as above described is formed from a length of wire of the shape as shown in FIG. 3. The single length of wire as shown in FIG. 3 is initially formed in the configuration there shown in planar form and is bent to define the foregoing described components of the reel. The reference numerals used describing the reel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been applied to the single length of wire of FIG. 3 before it is formed into the annular configuration of FIG. 1, and

before the side projections, as shown at 8, are bent upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Also the single length of wire as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes opposite end portions 17 and 18 the outer ends of which are welded together after shaping the wire into annular configuration providing the annular reel illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The end portions 17 and 18 are welded together and thus form one of the circumferentially extending connecting side portions 9 for the finished or completed reel.

A reel constructed as above described may then be mounted, as previously discussed, between a conventional pair of pressure side plates, and the coil of wire 4 of traverse wound layers disposed around the core and between the sides of the reel. After winding of the coil of wire 4 on the reel the pressure side plates are released and the diagonally cross-over portions, as best seen in FIG. 2, move from the solid line position to the dotted line position permitting the coil of wire to expand axially while maintaining the sides of the reel in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of the reel. Also, and as before mentioned, the reel may then be shipped to its point of use and upon mounting of the reel with the coil of wire thereon in a conventional letoff apparatus the diagonal cross-over portions 15 per- I ments may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. A wire reel formed from a length of wire to provide axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each reel side being defined by the formation in said wire of circumferentially spaced apart side projections extending radially outwardly of said core with successive side projections at each side of the reel being connected by circumferentially extending side portions, and in which said core is defined by diagonal cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.

2. A wire reel comprising a length of wire to provide axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each reel side being defined by the formation in said wire of circumferentially spaced apart side projections extending radially outwardly of said core with successive side projections at each side of the reel beingconnected by circumferentially extending side portions, and in which said core is defined by diagonal cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.

3. The wire reel of claim 2 in which said connecting side portions are of arcuate configuration and are of a radius substantially equal to the radius of said core.

4. The wire reel of claim 2 in which the side projections at one side of the reel lie in axial alignment with the side projections at the other side of the reel.

5. The wire reel of claim 4 in which each of said side projections have leg portions extending angularly towards each other and connected at their outer ends by a closed loop. 

1. A wire reel formed from a length of wire to provide axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each reel side being defined by the formation in said wire of ciRcumferentially spaced apart side projections extending radially outwardly of said core with successive side projections at each side of the reel being connected by circumferentially extending side portions, and in which said core is defined by diagonal cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.
 2. A wire reel comprising a length of wire to provide axially spaced apart reel sides and a core, each reel side being defined by the formation in said wire of circumferentially spaced apart side projections extending radially outwardly of said core with successive side projections at each side of the reel being connected by circumferentially extending side portions, and in which said core is defined by diagonal cross-over portions extending between axially opposed side projections.
 3. The wire reel of claim 2 in which said connecting side portions are of arcuate configuration and are of a radius substantially equal to the radius of said core.
 4. The wire reel of claim 2 in which the side projections at one side of the reel lie in axial alignment with the side projections at the other side of the reel.
 5. The wire reel of claim 4 in which each of said side projections have leg portions extending angularly towards each other and connected at their outer ends by a closed loop. 